The Kitchen’s Top 5 pickleball paddles right now (July 2026)

JOOLA has introduced a new “KineticFrame” in its new Pro V models, which was inspired by kick-point engineering in hockey sticks and golf clubs.

The KineticFrame is built to flex and recover during impact, and unlike prior paddles with a “diving board” neck flex, the KineticFrame uses a proprietary flex-point architecture that allows the paddle head to move parallel to its original position.

The dual-pivot design produces a motion that JOOLA engineers say delivers:

– Predictable & repeatable exit trajectory.
– Precise power (ie. the more you put in, the more you get out).
– Reduced launch-angle deviation.
– Faster snapback for rapid exchanges.
– Improved energy transfer efficiency.

JOOLA has also added a new hybrid shape to their paddle lineup called the Kosmos, which is now the signature shape of JOOLA pros Federico Staksrud and Tyson McGuffin.

Find our in-depth review of the Kosmos here.

Learn more about the development of the JOOLA Pro V series here.

The RPM Friction Pro V2 is an updated version that offers more power and pop than the original Friction Pro while maintaining the Gen 3 feel that many high-level players prefer.

In an interview with The Kitchen, Ignatowich said he has moved to China to be at the factory where RPM paddles are made, which has allowed him to be very hands-on and make small tweaks that ultimately impact performance. He compared the RPM Friction Pro V2 to an iPhone update — it’s not a complete overhaul, rather a 5-10% improvement from the original.

“With me in China I was able to really dial in the materials,” he said.

Find our full review of the RPM Friction Pro V2 here.

We think the Honolulu J6CR is the best “full foam” paddle on the market right now. The paddle features an intricate core design with multiple layers and cutouts that allows the paddle to absorb and transfer energy to the ball in a more controlled way.

It has more of a “pocketing” effect on contact compared to many other foam paddles, which makes it a breeze to shape the ball on shots from the baseline and flicks out of the air at the kitchen line. It also maintains the top-end power that full foam paddles have become known for over the past year.

Check out our in-depth review of the Honolulu J6CR here.

With the release of the Power 2 Series, 11SIX24 introduced a new grit technology called “HexGrit.” The paddle face is very gritty to the touch, and the brand claims the HexGrit is more durable than raw carbon fiber and other grit technologies on the market.

So if you’re a player who likes the feel of full-foam paddles and want something with longer lasting grit (why wouldn’t you want that?), then this is a great option.

Check out our in-depth review of the new Ultre Power 2 here.

Over the past two years Friday Pickleball has transformed from a company known for its viral videos to a legitimate player in the performance paddle market.

The brand took the next step on that journey in early 2026 with the launch of their Aura and Aura Pro paddles.

The Aura Pro is a full-foam paddle that delivers great pop in hands battles and big power on full swings like drives and overheads. It features a rubber ring around the core that gives the paddle a slightly more plush/less harsh feel than a lot of other full-foam paddles, which helped us get a good feel for the ball on shots that require more touch. In that sense it is an upgrade from a lot of the foam options we saw in 2025.

Check out our full review of the Aura and Aura Pro here.